Tuesday, August 22, 2017

We were at the same time glad and sad.I miss her each and every daywanting to share with her my joys and my cares.

Liquidating her estate was not easy to do
Florida laws have so many rules and paperwork to follow through
There are six of us sisters who had to sign all the papers
The house had to sell and we split her many memories

The memorial service was a solace for all
Remembering her joy of life and family love

Many people came to show us they care

They wanted to hug and kiss and share

Months later we came together again

Her ashes to the ocean with praises acclaim

A spiritual experience to remember her by

Her ashes to Cuba under the sky.

We cried and we loved

each other better to be

our Mom and Dad together

In heaven we'll see.

OBITUARY OF MARIA LUISA S. GASTON

María Luisa Sánchez Gastón, passed away peacefully to New Life in God on June 27th, 2016 at her home in North Lauderdale, Florida. We celebrate her 93 years of a life full of love and joy.

Born in Havana, Cuba, on December 5th 1922, she was the daughter of Bernabé Sánchez Culmell of Camaguey, Cuba, a cattle rancher and Senator for the Republic, and Ana María Maciá Barraqué, well respected in Cuban society, who raised Maria Luisa and her 3 brothers. Maria Luisa married Melchor Gastón Segrera, manager of El Dolores sugar mill in Matanzas, Cuba, and with him raised 6 daughters, living in Havana, and during the milling months in the Sugar Mill, where she worked in church and in the clinic to care for the workers’ families.

They left Cuba in 1960, and after 3 years in Miami settled in Milwaukee, where she lived committed to her family and to her church. In 1980 Melchor retired and they moved to North Lauderdale, Florida. In 1986 she lost her beloved husband Melchor with whom she had shared 44 years of married life. Maria Luisa became an active volunteer with the Senior Club, the Friends of the Library and at her parish, where she took communion to the sick and worked faithfully every Saturday at the Thrift Shop. She loved painting, gardening, and collecting shells, and was skilled at many arts and crafts, which she shared with daughters and grandchildren. Dancing and playing dominoes were other fun activities she enjoyed with family and friends.

In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her brothers Bernabé Sánchez Maciá (2011) and Fernando Sánchez Maciá (2016). She is survived by her youngest brother Federico Sánchez Maciá and Marta Baró, and by Raquel Hevia and Ana María (Anuka) Gamba, widows of brothers Bernabé and Fernando respectively.

A Memorial Mass to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday July 16th, at 11:30 am at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 1400 South State Road 7 (also called Route 441), North Lauderdale, Florida 33068. The Mass will be followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. We will share pictures, display some of her paintings and tell stories of her wonderful life. All are welcome.

Special thanks are due to friends of the Senior Center, staff of the Adult Day Care and of Catholic Hospice at home, and her helpful neighbors and home care aides (Karen, Sharon, Carmen, Lis, Maria del Carmen, María and Gladys) whose excellent help enabled us to keep Mom at home, as was her fervent wish, and together with her family, accompanied Mom in these last months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a donation to honor her memory: Las Esclavas in Caibarién, Cuba, or the Families of Gaston’s “Dolores Sugar Mill”, or Caritas Cuba - Holguin. Please write the check to Maria Luisa Gaston, and in the “Memo” line, write your donation choice. We will collect and use appropriate channels to get the money to the right place. Address for donations: Maria Luisa Gaston, 7411 S.W. 11th Court, North Lauderdale, Florida, 33068.